DESCRIPTION: This course discusses Christian beliefs about ecclesiology and eschatology. The topics include the church, its nature, ministry and mission, sacramental theology, as well as the last things: death, the intermediate state, resurrection, judgment, heaven and hell, and the consummation of creation.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of the issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics; (3) skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with other views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

COURSE FORMAT: Meets daily for ten four-hour sessions of lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING:

**Edwards, Jonathan. Concerning the End for Which God Created the World. In Ethical Writings, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 8, ed. Paul Ramsey. Yale University Press, 1989. Available online at http://edwards.yale.edu

**Hunsinger, George. The Eucharist and Ecumenism. Cambridge University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0521719179. Pub.price: $30.00.

*  Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Ecclesiology. InterVarsity Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0830826889. Pub.price: $20.00.

*  Migliore, Daniel. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2004, chs. 11-14. ISBN: 080282787X. Retail price: $28.00.

*  Schwartz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0802847331. Pub.price: $36.00.

In addition, students must choose ONE book from this list:

*  Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 978-0883442142. Pub.price: $22.

*  Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 9780800626723. Pub.price: $20.00.

*  González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 9780687230679. Pub.price: $20.00.

*  Lee, Sang Hyun. From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology. Fortress, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800696689. Pub.price: $24.00.

*  Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802841131. Pub.price: $21.00.

*  Russell, L. M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJKP, 1993. ISBN: 978-0664250706. Pub.price: $29.95.

**Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologiae. Available online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.html

*  Barr, W. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-0802841438. OP; no publisher price available.

**Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 4: Holy Spirit, Church and New Creation. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801026577. Pub.price: $54.99.

**Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802838209. Pub.price: $50.00.

*  Braaten, C. E., and Jenson, R. W. The Ecumenical Future. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802826718. Pub.price: $24.00.

*  Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. 2 Vols. Westminster Press, 1960. ISBN: 978-0664220280. Pub.price: $80.00.

*  Fudge, E. W., and R. A. Peterson. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830822553. Pub.price: $17.00.

*  Gelder C. van, ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802846556. Pub.price: $29.00.

*  Gelder, C. van. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit. Baker, 2000. ISBN: 978-0801090967. Pub.price: $20.00.

*  Gibbs, E., and Bolger, R. K. Emerging Churches. Baker 2006. ISBN: 978-0801027154. Pub.price: $19.99.

*  Grenz, S. J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0830817573. Pub.price: $18.00.

*  Guder, D. L., and L. Barrett, eds. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802843500. Pub.price: $28.00.

*  George, T. Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail: Evangelical Ecumenism. Baker, 2004. ISBN: 0801027640. Pub.price: $19.99.

**Heppe, Heinrich. Reformed Dogmatics. Wipf & Stock, 2008. ISBN: 978-1556357756. Pub.price: $59.00.

*  Hauerwas, S., and W. H. Willimon. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon, 1989. ISBN: 978-0687361595. Pub.price: $17.00.

*  Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Toward a Pneumatological Theology. Ed. Amos Yong. UPA, 2002. ISBN: 978-0761823896. Pub.price: $65.50.

**Kvanvig, Jonathan. The Problem of Hell. Oxford University Press, 1993. ISBN: 978-0195084870. Pub.price: $85.00.

*  Newbigin, L. The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. Eerdmans, 1989. ISBN: 978-0802804266. Pub.price: $24.00.

*  Parry, Robin, and Chris Partridge, eds. Universal Salvation: The Current Debate. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802827640. Pub.price: $28.00.

*  Parsons, S. F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0521663809. Pub.price: $30.99.

**Schmidt, Heinrich. The Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Wipf & Stock, 2008. ISBN: 978-1606081037. Pub.price: $59.00.

*  Stackhouse, J. G., ed. Evangelical Ecclesiology: Reality or Illusion? Baker 2003. ISBN: 978-0801026539. Pub.price: $24.00.

**Volf, M. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802844408. Pub.price: $32.00.

**Walls, Jerry. Heaven: The Logic of Eternal Joy. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195340723. Pub.price: $24.99.

**_________. Hell: The Logic of Damnation. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN: 978-0268010966. Pub.price: $19.00.

**_________. Purgatory: The Logic of Total Transformation. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199732296. Pub.price: $35.00.

*  Indicates text is introductory to intermediate

**Indicates text is intermediate to advanced